Venus may hide massive lava tubes beneath its extreme surface

Venus, long considered Earth’s “evil twin,” may conceal enormous lava tubes beneath its scorching, acidic surface, according to a new study accepted for publication in the journal Icarus.

Despite surface temperatures exceeding 480°C, clouds of sulfuric acid, and pressures almost 100 times that of Earth, researchers say Venus’ lower gravity—around 91% of Earth’s—could allow underground lava tubes up to 1 kilometre wide to remain structurally stable. Lava tubes are naturally occurring tunnels formed by retreating lava and are also found on Earth, the Moon, and Mars.

The international research team used Finite Element Limit Analysis (FELA) to estimate the potential size of these underground channels. “Our results suggest that lava tubes with widths of a few hundred metres may remain stable, and these dimensions are consistent with observed Venusian channel sizes,” the study notes.

Scientists hope future missions will confirm the existence of these structures. Observations of pit chains, skylights, or subsurface voids could provide evidence of Venus’ lava tubes. NASA missions such as DAVINCI, scheduled for launch in 2030, and the VERITAS mission, designed to scan the planet’s surface with high-resolution instruments, could play a key role in these investigations.

While extreme conditions make human exploration impossible, these lava tubes, if confirmed, could offer valuable insights into the planet’s geology and volcanic activity. Previous studies have also suggested the presence of similar structures, but Venus’ immense tube volumes appear larger than those on Earth, Mars, or the Moon.

By Vugar Khalilov